[and he lets go of his clothes in that same breath, drawing back and stuffing hands into his pockets. he notices rufus looking around amidst the conversations he's keeping up with, and a pang of guilt builds up. it's so unfair; he had moved on, he was willing to just let things be, see how they panned out.]
[with a hand, he waves over his shoulder as he starts making his way inside.]
[there's really not much else for him to say — and so cloud returns back to the bar, where his drink was held for him, and he's soon found by rufus who wants to have a toast together, all in his excitement over finally, finally achieving what he's wanted for years. cloud tries his best to keep up appearances, knowing that he's got to try and make it for most of the party.]
[he doesn't try to find sephiroth again, being incredibly obvious at keeping his gaze centered in the area right in front of him.]
[it is weeks later when he sets foot again in the shinra building. it's weird to think that he worked here, once, but now he has access to it as rufus's partner. he doesn't have access to everything, of course, but enough access that he can find himself to sephiroth's office. his old one, just like it had been before, and it's only the sound of wheels on polished floor that foretell his arrival, as cloud pushes the door open and allows himself in, suitcase trailing behind him.]
Hey.
[it's better to just — do this as normal as possible. the door closes behind him as he sets the suitcase to stand upright in the middle of the room.]
I should've called, but Lara outside said you weren't in a meeting. So.
[papers strewn across his desk, books and reports, and yet he looks so immaculate, like none of it disturbs him.]
no subject
[and he lets go of his clothes in that same breath, drawing back and stuffing hands into his pockets. he notices rufus looking around amidst the conversations he's keeping up with, and a pang of guilt builds up. it's so unfair; he had moved on, he was willing to just let things be, see how they panned out.]
[with a hand, he waves over his shoulder as he starts making his way inside.]
[there's really not much else for him to say — and so cloud returns back to the bar, where his drink was held for him, and he's soon found by rufus who wants to have a toast together, all in his excitement over finally, finally achieving what he's wanted for years. cloud tries his best to keep up appearances, knowing that he's got to try and make it for most of the party.]
[he doesn't try to find sephiroth again, being incredibly obvious at keeping his gaze centered in the area right in front of him.]
[it is weeks later when he sets foot again in the shinra building. it's weird to think that he worked here, once, but now he has access to it as rufus's partner. he doesn't have access to everything, of course, but enough access that he can find himself to sephiroth's office. his old one, just like it had been before, and it's only the sound of wheels on polished floor that foretell his arrival, as cloud pushes the door open and allows himself in, suitcase trailing behind him.]
Hey.
[it's better to just — do this as normal as possible. the door closes behind him as he sets the suitcase to stand upright in the middle of the room.]
I should've called, but Lara outside said you weren't in a meeting. So.
[papers strewn across his desk, books and reports, and yet he looks so immaculate, like none of it disturbs him.]
...sorry if you are. Busy.